Girls in Lancashire being forced to undergo female genital mutilation

New victims of female genital mutilation in Lancashire were seen by NHS services last year.

The figures show the ongoing scale of the challenge to fight female genital mutilation (FGM) across the UK, where thousands of new cases were recorded, shortly after the first person to be convicted of the "barbaric" act was jailed.

NHS Digital figures show that victims of FGM – where female genitals are cut, injured or changed for no medical reason – in Lancashire were seen by NHS Services on at least four appointments in 2018.

Of those, at least four were having their injuries recorded by doctors, nurses or midwives for the first time. In areas where few cases were reported, exact numbers have been obscured to prevent identification.

Across England, there were more than 8,500 appointments for women and girls with FGM at NHS services over the 12-month period, with nearly 4,000 having their injuries recorded for the first time.

While concentrated on larger cities across England, the new figures surprisingly show that cases are also found in the country's smaller towns and rural regions. The NSPCC estimates that 137,000 people living in the UK are victims of FGM.

FGM is illegal in the UK. Carrying it out or assisting in it being conducted, either in the UK or abroad, can be punished with up to 14 years in prison.

At the start of March, a 37-year-old Ugandan woman was jailed for 13 years for cutting her three-year-old daughter, becoming the first person in the UK to be sentenced for FGM.

Referring to the case, John Cameron, head of the NSPCC's Childline, said: "This landmark case sends a very clear message that FGM will not be tolerated in this country under any circumstances.

"Some cultures consider FGM a necessary part of bringing up a young girl. There may even be pressures for families to conform. The truth is it is a horrific form of child abuse and a criminal offence which has no place in today's society.

"If we want to protect girls from this dangerous and potentially life changing practice we need to talk about FGM, encourage people to seek help and advice and report any concerns if they believe a child has been cut or is about to be."

As well as providing treatment for injuries sustained through FGM, NHS services also advise patients on the illegality of the practice, and provide advice on its long-term health implications.

FGM is most commonly carried out within communities from Africa, the Middle East and Asia, and young girls are often flown abroad for ceremonies where FGM is performed.